Hourglass [Vinyl]

Dave Gahan | Format: Vinyl

Product Details

• Vinyl (October 23, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Virgin Records Us
• ASIN: B000VT6P22
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #603,608 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Saw Something

2. Kingdom

3. Deeper and Deeper

4. 21 Days

5. Miracles

6. Use You

7. Insoluble

8. Endless

9. A Little Lie

10. Down

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Despite walloping a ruinous heroin habit that left him clinically dead for a few minutes a decade ago, Dave Gahan's first solo outing, 2003's Paper Monsters, was most notable for its utter lack of self-confidence. You couldn't really blame him for sounding a bit tentative--the lean Depeche Mode frontman had spent the previous 25 years singing other people's songs. On Hourglass, however, Gahan finally comes into his own, taking the grimy synth-rock blueprint of his 50 million album-selling band and customizing it with his own swaggering touch. He proves just as passionate meditating over lovely mood pieces, such as "Miracles," as he does lending his well-worn howl to noir-ish rock anthems like "Kingdom," through it all sounding more alive than he has in years. --Aidin Vaziri

Product Description

Digipak edition of the 2007 sophomore solo album from the lead vocalist of Depeche Mode. Hourglass is an Electronic gem of an album that is as experimental and atmospheric as it is powerful and melodic. Although Gahan's debut album was a step away from the sound of his full-time band, Hourglass embraces the dark and moody Electronica that has made Depeche Mode worldwide superstars. Features the single 'Hourglass' plus 'Saw Something', 'A Little Lie', 'Down' and many others. The voice of a generation has come home..... Mute. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Like sands through the Hourglass, so are the Daves of our lives..., January 23, 2008

By 

The Straw Man "J.E. Hoppock" (Aloof October on April's Birthday) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Hourglass (Dig) (Audio CD)

I have noticed some (I use the word some liberally) real criticism towards Dave Gahan's solo work. On Paper Monsters he got nailed for not sounding like Depeche Mode with a rock/blues/pseudo DM sound. Now on Hourglass he again is being abased (to some degree) because the album has an electronic sound that is too close to that of Depeche Mode. I suppose Dave Gahan is in a real quagmire regardless where he goes with his solo efforts.

There have also been some claims that Dave Gahan's solo material is very sullen and perhaps macabre. With respect to Hourglass, not Paper Monsters, I might have an answer on why his solo material might be so ominous, dark and melancholy. Since there was so much turmoil in his life with substance abuse, several marriages and suicide attempts. Dave Gahan was technically dead for like 3 minutes from one of these suicide attempts.

After all these elements/issues, Dave Gahan returned and recorded three more Depeche Mode albums, two best of compilations with DM, released two solo albums and went on tour four times, once as a solo act, thus far. The interviews that I have read with Dave Gahan on T.V., DM/DG releases, magazine articles or creditable websites show that David Gahan is quite happy and stable in his life.

It appears (from what I have read since I haven't spoken with the man himself) he is pleased with the Hourglass album. On his website there are clips of him working on this album, he is having a great time. Dancing, laughing and seems really positive about himself and his sophomore album. Also in an interview given on "The Touring the Angel" DVD, Mr. Gahan really seems at ease where Depeche Mode is, was and will be going.

It should also be taken into consideration that Dave Gahan is getting older and that can cause some issues. That was another jumping point for him making this album. Also just because all his turmoil with regards to substance abuse happened about 10-12 years ago doesn't mean that it still doesn't bother him. Sobriety is a life long process, so it is very believable and plausible that many of his "old demons" still vex him. Therefore, if he makes a moody or gloomy record with regards to lyrics and melodies that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Why, because it is better to express those dark feelings by making an album, than going out and using drugs, getting arrested and killing yourself/others. The entire Hourglass record seems like it was a very cathartic experience for him.

I have also seen some criticism towards the lyric in the song "Miracles", claiming the lyric is blasphemous and Dave Gahan has forgotten Jesus. For the record, the lyric is "I don't believe in Jesus but I am praying anyway". Perhaps the purpose of this lyric is dualism in itself. The duplicity in this statement screams the uncertainness towards nebulosity in life and higher power, not heresy. It is better to be honest and question things like religion than just automatically conforming and not questioning Christianity. After all Jesus will forgive you no matter what, right? Ask for forgiveness and one will receive it. So if that is the understanding, I don't think Jesus hates David Gahan. It isn't like Dave Gahan walks around with an upside down cross painted on his forehead. I think the real problem with Christianity isn't the religion or Jesus, but some of the people who practice it. They do more speaking for Jesus, than listening to him.

As for the Hourglass album, it is much more electronic when compared to Paper Monsters, which isn't a bad thing. Hourglass seems to have a bit more depth in it than Paper Monsters. When I say depth, not to be confused with lack of quality, depth in the terms that most of the songs are Hourglass are a bit more epic than on Paper Monsters. For instance Dirty Sticky Floors, featured on Paper Monsters, is rather jovial in sound despite the fact the song is about Dave Gahan's drug addiction. Now the songs on Hourglass have deep lyrics, but here the music style is much more dramatic and grandiose then its predecessor.

As for the songs they range from ballads "Saw Something" (electronic sounding), "Miracles" (also electronic sounding); dance/industrial "Kingdom" (electronic sounding), "Deeper & Deeper" (electronic sounding); there are at least two songs on Hourglass that have a Paper Monsters feel to them, "21 Days" and "Down". These descriptions are just a sample of what this album has to offer. Overall, this album has a good mix of slow and fast. A great album to be played in the evening or as another reviewer noted, during the autumn season.

My reaction to Hourglass is a positive one. The music is timeless and astonishing. I also feel comfortable to say that if Depeche Mode does call it quits (which I hope doesn't happen any time soon) Dave Gahan has definitely proved that he is able to stand on his own two feet.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful Hourglass!, October 23, 2007

By 

Nse Ette (Lagos, Nigeria) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Hourglass (Dig) (Audio CD)

Depeche Mode vocalist Dave Gahan returns to his roots on his sophomore solo disc "Hourglass". Whilst his solo debut "Paper monsters" saw him fleeting with a more guitar heavy sound than his Depeche Mode alumnus, this is more electronic than that.

More dour and introspective (Gahan co-wrote all the songs, something he hardly did with the group) than the group's sound, the 10 songs cut right to the chase. Touching on subjects such as confusion/doubt over religion, (the haunting percussion free ballad "Miracles" with lyrics like "I don't believe in miracles / and they happen everyday / I dont believe in Jesus / but I'm praying anyway"), an industrial sound (the more guitar driven, distorted sounding "Use you"), and the bass laden "Deeper and deeper" with snarling vocals.

My absolute favourites are opening cut, the hypnotic "Saw something" (with its buzzing synths, it sounds like a cross between Thom Yorke and eighties Depeche Mode) and lead off single "Kingdom" (again, lyrics touching on his doubt) with just the right balance of guitar, distortion and electronic effects.

Shifting the tempo down is the gently pulsating "Endless" (with the albums title "Hourglass" in its lyrics), the dreamy "Insoluble", while closing the CD is the chiming and swirling melancholic ballad aptly titled "Down".

This is such a beautiful collection of songs, before you realize it, the hourglass is done!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great, June 25, 2008

By 

Rene Serrano "SG Ultrafan" (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hourglass (Dig) (Audio CD)

Dave has done a wonderful job in this album...he keeps his voice and talent...the colaboration of Eigner and Philpot makes this album fantastic. You can feel Dave's personal touch in hourglass, kingdom...some of the songs resemble a little bit Martin Gore's dark style....Love Martin Gore's writing and music by the way. Hourglass is beautiful music, made by talented musicians.